Physical Therapy Assistant

Summary

About the Position: Serves as Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) for a designated work area within the Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) and associated branch clinics. Performs a wide range of complex PTA duties requiring an advanced practical knowledge of physical therapy, evidence-based practice and data collection to perform specific aspects of evaluations and interventions. This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

Duties

• Serves as Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) for a designated work area within the Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) and associated branch clinics – inpatient and outpatient environments
• Performs a wide range of complex PTA duties requiring an advanced practical knowledge of physical therapy, evidence-based practice and data collection, as directed, to perform specific aspects of evaluations and interventions.
• Ensure treatment plan is designed to maximize results in promotion of healing and load tolerance while ultimately improving the patient's functional independence.
• Provides instruction to patients, family members and/or other health workers to perform selected treatment procedures and functional training activities. In the clinic environment, is responsible for the safety and well-being of patients
• Shares technical expertise with other therapy assistants, physical therapy students and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to make recommendations for the patient's rehabilitation and reintegration needs
• Masters’ new techniques and modality proficiency by studying current literature and conducting required research as required.
• Research new therapy equipment and make recommendations for purchase
• Tracks procedure's effects on patients, long-and short-term effects of different types of therapy, and appropriateness of a specific therapy, noting overall trends in efficacy, reporting problems to supervisor.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the ?education and/or experience? requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for a Physical Therapy Assistant: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes implementing physical therapy treatment plans; and instructing on physical therapy programs or providing status reports. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06). OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Kinesiology, Sports Medicine, or Exercise Science. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.